{"id":"evidence-act-2025","name":"Evidence Act 2025","slug":"evidence-act-2025","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":30568,"registerId":"wa-evidence-act-2025-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Evidence Act 2025","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nEvidence Act 2025\n\nWestern Australia\n\nEvidence Act 2025\n\nContents\n\nPart 1 — Preliminary\n\nDivision 1 — Introduction\n\n1. Short title 2\n\n2. Commencement 2\n\nDivision 2 — Interpretation\n\n3. Terms used 3\n\n4. References to business 14\n\n5. Examination in chief, cross‑examination and re‑examination 15\n\n6. References to documents 16\n\n7. Representations made in documents 17\n\n8. References to availability of documents and things 17\n\n9. References to availability to give evidence 18\n\n10. References to laws 19\n\n11. References to criminal proceedings 20\n\n12. References to civil penalties 20\n\n13. References to offspring and parents 20\n\nDivision 3 — Application of Act\n\n14. Application of Act 21\n\n15. Extended application of certain provisions 21\n\n16. Electronic processes facilitation 22\n\n17. Act binds Crown 22\n\n18. Operation of other Acts 22\n\n19. Application of common law and equity 22\n\n20. Parliamentary privilege preserved 23\n\n21. General powers of court 23\n\nPart 10 — Miscellaneous\n\n384. Review of Act 24\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 25\n\nUncommenced provisions table 25\n\nOther notes 25\n\nDefined terms\n\n  \n\n![]()Western Australia\n\nEvidence Act 2025\n\nAn Act —\n\n- to provide for the law of evidence; and\n- to repeal the *Evidence Act 1906* and regulations made under that Act; and\n- to make consequential amendments to various Acts.\n\n\n## Part 1 — Preliminary\n\n### Division 1 — Introduction\n\n##### 1. Short title\n\nThis is the *Evidence Act 2025*.\n\n##### 2. Commencement\n\nThis Act comes into operation as follows —\n\n(a) Part 1 — on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;\n\n(b) Part 10 (but only section 384) — on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;\n\n(c) Part 12 Division 1 —\n\n(i) if the *Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016* section 240 comes into operation on or before the day fixed under paragraph (e) for section 386 — on the day fixed under paragraph (e) for section 386; or\n\n(ii) otherwise — immediately after the *Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016* section 240 comes into operation;\n\n(d) Part 12 Division 17 —\n\n(i) if the *Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024* section 158 comes into operation on or before the day fixed under paragraph (e) for section 386 — on the day fixed under paragraph (e) for section 386; or\n\n(ii) otherwise — immediately after the *Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024* section 158 comes into operation;\n\n(e) the rest of the Act — on a day fixed by proclamation, and different days may be fixed for different provisions.\n\n### Division 2 — Interpretation\n\n##### 3. Terms used\n\n(1) In this Act —\n\naccused means a person alleged in a prosecution notice or indictment to have committed an offence;\n\nadmission means a previous representation that is —\n\n(a) made by a person who is or becomes a party to a proceeding (including an accused in a criminal proceeding); and\n\n(b) adverse to the person’s interest in the outcome of the proceeding;\n\nasserted fact has the meaning given in section 72(1);\n\naudio link means facilities (including telephone) that enable, at the same time, a court at a place to hear a person at another place and vice versa;\n\nAustralia includes each external Territory;\n\nAustralian court means —\n\n(a) the High Court of Australia; or\n\n(b) a court exercising federal jurisdiction; or\n\n(c) a court of a State or Territory; or\n\n(d) a judge, justice or arbitrator under an Australian law; or\n\n(e) a person or body authorised by an Australian law, or by consent of parties, to hear, receive and examine evidence; or\n\n(f) a person or body that, in exercising a function under an Australian law, is required to apply the laws of evidence;\n\nAustralian law means a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;\n\nAustralian or overseas proceeding means a proceeding (however described) in an Australian court or a foreign court;\n\nAustralian Parliament means —\n\n(a) the Parliament; or\n\n(b) the Parliament of the Commonwealth or of another State; or\n\n(c) any present or former Legislative Assembly of a Territory, including the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly;\n\nbusiness has a meaning affected by section 4;\n\ncase, of a party, means the facts in issue in respect of which the party bears the legal burden of proof;\n\nchild means —\n\n(a) a person under 18 years of age; or\n\n(b) a person referred to in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of the definition of ***child***  in the *Children’s Court of Western Australia Act 1988* section 3(1);\n\ncivil proceeding means a proceeding other than a criminal proceeding;\n\nclient has a meaning affected by section 148(1);\n\nco‑accused, in relation to an accused in a criminal proceeding, means a person against whom a prosecution has been instituted, but not yet completed or terminated, for —\n\n(a) an offence that arose in relation to the same events as those in relation to which the offence for which the accused is being prosecuted arose; or\n\n(b) an offence that relates to or is connected with the offence for which the accused is being prosecuted;\n\ncoincidence evidence means evidence of a kind referred to in section 115(1) that a party seeks to have adduced for the purpose referred to in that subsection;\n\ncoincidence rule means the rule of evidence provided for by section 115(1);\n\ncomplainant —\n\n(a) in relation to an offence — means a person against or in respect of whom the offence was or is alleged to have been committed, attempted or proposed, regardless of whether a complaint about the offence has been made to or recorded by a police officer; and\n\n(b) in a criminal proceeding — means the person against or in respect of whom the offence the subject of the proceeding was or is alleged to have been committed, attempted or proposed;\n\ncourt means —\n\n(a) the Supreme Court, the District Court, the Children’s Court, the Family Court, the Magistrates Court, a warden’s court under the *Mining Act 1978* or a court of summary jurisdiction (as defined in the *Criminal Procedure Act 2004* section 3(1)); or\n\n(b) the Coroner’s Court of Western Australia; or\n\n(c) any other court created by Parliament; or\n\n(d) any person or body that, in exercising a function under a written law, is required to apply the laws of evidence;\n\ncredibility, of a person who has made a representation that has been admitted in evidence —\n\n(a) means the credibility of the representation; and\n\n(b) includes the person’s ability to observe or remember facts and events about which the person made the representation;\n\ncredibility, of a witness —\n\n(a) means the credibility of any part or all of the evidence of the witness; and\n\n(b) includes the witness’s ability to observe or remember facts and events about which the witness has given, is giving or is to give evidence;\n\ncredibility rule means the rule of evidence provided for by section 120;\n\ncriminal or identified organisation means —\n\n(a) a criminal organisation as defined in *The Criminal Code* section 221D(1); or\n\n(b) an organisation named in the *Criminal Law (Unlawful Consorting and Prohibited Insignia) Act 2021* Schedule 2;\n\ncriminal or identified organisation offence means an offence alleged to have been committed —\n\n(a) by a person who, at the time of the commission of the alleged offence, is alleged to have been a member of a criminal or identified organisation; or\n\n(b) at the direction of a criminal or identified organisation; or\n\n(c) in association with 1 or more members of a criminal or identified organisation (whether or not those members are or have been charged with, or convicted of, the offence); or\n\n(d) for the benefit of a criminal or identified organisation;\n\ncriminal proceeding —\n\n(a) means a prosecution for an offence, other than a prescribed taxation offence as defined in the *Taxation Administration Act 1953* (Commonwealth) section 8A; and\n\n(b) includes the following stages of a prosecution —\n\n(i) a proceeding for the committal of a person for trial or sentence for the offence;\n\n(ii) a proceeding relating to bail;\n\ncross‑examination has the meaning given in section 5(2);\n\ncross‑examiner means a party who is cross‑examining a witness;\n\ndisability includes the following —\n\n(a) mental impairment;\n\n(b) a developmental disorder;\n\n(c) a neurological disorder;\n\n(d) a physical disability;\n\ndocument has the meaning given in section 6(1) and (2);\n\nelectronic communication has the meaning given in the *Electronic Transactions Act 2011* section 5(1);\n\nexamination in chief has the meaning given in section 5(1);\n\nexternal Territory has the meaning given in the *Acts Interpretation Act 1901* (Commonwealth) section 2B;\n\nfamily violence has the meaning given in the *Restraining Orders Act 1997* section 5A;\n\nfamily violence offence means an offence that involves family violence or the threat of, or attempted, family violence;\n\nforeign court means any court (including any person or body authorised to take or receive evidence, whether on behalf of a court or otherwise and whether or not the person or body has power to require the answering of questions or the production of documents) of a foreign country or a part of a foreign country;\n\ngovernment or official gazette includes the *Gazette*;\n\ngovernment or official website includes the WA legislation website;\n\nground rules hearing has the meaning given in section 295(1);\n\nharm includes actual physical bodily harm, financial loss, stress or shock, damage to reputation or emotional or psychological harm (such as shame, humiliation and fear);\n\nhearsay rule means the rule of evidence provided for by section 72(1);\n\nidentification evidence has the meaning given in section 133;\n\ninvestigating official means —\n\n(a) a police officer (other than a police officer who is engaged in covert investigations under the orders of a superior); or\n\n(b) a person appointed by or under an Australian law (other than a person who is engaged in covert investigations under the orders of a superior) whose functions include functions in respect of the prevention or investigation of offences;\n\njudge, in relation to a proceeding, means the judge, magistrate or other person before whom the proceeding is being held;\n\nlaw, of the State, the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country, has the meaning given in section 10;\n\nleading question means a question asked of a witness that —\n\n(a) directly or indirectly suggests a particular answer to the question; or\n\n(b) assumes the existence of a fact the existence of which is in dispute in the proceeding and as to the existence of which the witness has not given evidence before the question is asked;\n\nlegal counsel means —\n\n(a) a legal practitioner; or\n\n(b) a lawyer employed in or by a government agency or other body who by law is exempted from holding an Australian practising certificate (as defined in the *Legal Profession Uniform Law (WA)* section 6(1)), or who does not require an Australian practising certificate, to engage in legal practice in the course of that employment;\n\nmental impairment has the meaning given in the *Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023* section 9(1);\n\nminister of religion —\n\n(a) means a person who is recognised in accordance with the practices of a faith or religion as a person who is authorised to conduct services or ceremonies in accordance with the tenets of the faith or religion; and\n\n(b) includes such a person regardless of how the person’s position or title is described (for example, member of the clergy, priest, minister, imam, rabbi or pastor);\n\noffence —\n\n(a) means an offence against or arising under an Australian law; and\n\n(b) includes an alleged offence;\n\noffspring, of a person, has the meaning given in section 13(1);\n\nopinion rule means the rule of evidence provided for by section 90(1);\n\nparent, of a person, has a meaning affected by section 13;\n\nparty, in a criminal proceeding, includes an accused;\n\nperson acting judicially —\n\n(a) means any person or body having, in this State, by law or by consent of the parties, authority to hear, receive and examine evidence; but\n\n(b) does not include —\n\n(i) the State Administrative Tribunal or a member of the State Administrative Tribunal exercising the jurisdiction of the Tribunal; or\n\n(ii) a member of a House of Parliament or a committee of a House, or both Houses, of Parliament who, by law, has authority to hear, receive and examine evidence;\n\npolice officer means —\n\n(a) a member or special member of the Australian Federal Police; or\n\n(b) a member of the police force of a State or Territory;\n\nprevious representation means a representation made otherwise than in the course of giving evidence in the proceeding in which evidence of the representation is sought to be adduced;\n\nprior consistent statement, of a witness, means a previous representation of the witness that is consistent with evidence given by the witness;\n\nprior inconsistent statement, of a witness, means a previous representation of the witness that is inconsistent with evidence given by the witness;\n\nprobative value, of evidence, means the extent to which the evidence could rationally affect the assessment of the probability of the existence of a fact in issue;\n\nproceeding includes a proceeding that —\n\n(a) relates to bail; or\n\n(b) is an interlocutory proceeding or proceeding of a similar kind; or\n\n(c) is heard in chambers; or\n\n(d) relates to sentencing;\n\nprosecutor means a person who institutes or is responsible for the conduct of a prosecution;\n\nprotected communication has the meaning given in section 165(1);\n\npublic document has the meaning given in section 6(3) and (4);\n\npublish means to disseminate to the public or a section of the public by any means, including the following —\n\n(a) in a newspaper or periodical publication;\n\n(b) by radio broadcast, television, a website, an online facility or other electronic means;\n\nre‑examination has the meaning given in section 5(3);\n\nrelated proceeding, in relation to another proceeding, means —\n\n(a) a retrial or rehearing of the other proceeding; or\n\n(b) a proceeding by way of appeal from, or judicial review of, a decision made or penalty imposed in the other proceeding;\n\nrepresentation includes the following —\n\n(a) an express or implied representation (whether oral or in writing);\n\n(b) a representation to be inferred from conduct;\n\n(c) a representation not intended by its maker to be communicated to or seen by another person;\n\n(d) a representation that for any reason is not communicated;\n\nscreening procedure means a procedure that involves the use of a screen, one‑way glass or other device in relation to a witness while the witness gives evidence in a proceeding so that —\n\n(a) the witness cannot see a party to the proceeding; and\n\n(b) the witness can be seen by the judge, the jury (if any), each party to the proceeding and each party’s legal counsel (if any);\n\nseal includes a stamp;\n\nsexual abuse includes any misconduct of a sexual nature;\n\nsexual offence means the following —\n\n(a) an offence under *The Criminal Code* Chapter XXXI;\n\n(b) an offence of a sexual nature under *The Criminal Code* Chapter XXII, XXV, XXVA or XXXIIIB;\n\n(c) an offence under a provision of *The Criminal Code* or another written law that has been repealed, if the acts or omissions that constituted the offence under the repealed provision would constitute an offence referred to in paragraph (a) or (b);\n\n(d) any other offence of a sexual nature —\n\n(i) including an offence under *The Criminal Code* section 306 or the *Children and Community Services Act 2004* section 192; but\n\n(ii) not including conduct of a person that has ceased to be an offence against, or arising under, a law of this State since the time when the person engaged in the conduct;\n\n(e) an offence of attempting to commit, conspiring with another person to commit, inciting another person to commit or attempting to procure another person to commit an offence referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d);\n\nsexual offence complainant means a complainant in relation to a sexual offence;\n\nspecial witness has the meaning given in section 228(1);\n\nsuperior court means the Supreme Court, the District Court or the Family Court, except when exercising federal jurisdiction;\n\ntendency evidence means evidence of a kind referred to in section 113(1) that a party seeks to have adduced for the purpose referred to in that subsection;\n\ntendency rule means the rule of evidence provided for by section 113(1);\n\ntraditional laws and customs, of an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group (including a kinship group), includes any of the traditions, customary laws, customs, observances, practices, knowledge and beliefs of the group;\n\ntribunal, of a State or Territory, means a person or body authorised by or under a law of the State or Territory to take evidence on oath or affirmation;\n\nvideo link means facilities (including closed‑circuit television) that enable, at the same time, a court at a place to see and hear a person at another place and vice versa;\n\nvideo link separation procedure means a procedure for giving evidence under which —\n\n(a) a witness gives evidence at a separate place to the courtroom, while the evidence is transmitted to the courtroom by means of a video link; or\n\n(b) a party is required to remain in a separate place to the courtroom while a witness gives evidence in the courtroom and the evidence of the witness is transmitted by means of video link to the place in which the party remains while the evidence is given;\n\nWA tribunal —\n\n(a) means a tribunal established in this State under a written law; but\n\n(b) does not include the State Administrative Tribunal;\n\nwitness includes —\n\n(a) a party giving evidence; and\n\n(b) a person who is to give evidence as a witness in a proceeding.\n\n(2) A reference in this Act to a witness who has been called by a party to give evidence includes a reference to the party giving evidence.\n\n(3) In this Act —\n\n(a) a reference to a person appointed or holding office under or because of a law of the State or another Australian law includes a reference to an employee as defined in the *Public Sector Management Act 1994* section 3(1); and\n\n(b) a reference to a person appointed or holding office under or because of a law of the Commonwealth or another Australian law includes a reference to an APS employee as defined in the *Public Service Act 1999* (Commonwealth) section 7; and\n\n(c) for the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b), a reference to an office is a reference to the position occupied by the employee concerned.\n\n(4) Without limiting the effect of the *Interpretation Act 1984* section 19, the material that may be considered in accordance with that section in the interpretation of a provision of this Act includes any relevant report of a Law Reform Commission laid before either House of the Parliament of the Commonwealth before the provision was enacted.\n\nNote for this section:\n\nThe *Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) sets out a law of evidence that is the basis for similar (but not identical) Acts that have been enacted in some States and Territories. These Acts are referred to as the uniform evidence law. Parts of this Act are based on uniform evidence law provisions, as in force at 1 January 2025.\n\nParts of this Act are based on provisions of the *Evidence Act 1906*, which is repealed by this Act.\n\nA note that compares a provision of this Act to a specified provision of the *Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth), the *Evidence Act 1995* (New South Wales) or the *Evidence Act 1906* indicates that the provision of this Act is based (in whole or in part, and with possible modifications) on the specified provision.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1906* s. 3, 109 and 120\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary\n\n##### 4. References to business\n\n(1) A reference in this Act to a business includes a reference to the following —\n\n(a) a profession, calling, occupation, trade or undertaking;\n\n(b) an activity engaged in or carried on by the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory;\n\n(c) an activity engaged in or carried on by the government of a foreign country;\n\n(d) an activity engaged in or carried on by a person or body holding office or exercising power under or because of the Commonwealth Constitution, an Australian law or a law of a foreign country, being an activity engaged in or carried on in the performance of the functions of the office or in the exercise of the power (otherwise than in a private capacity);\n\n(e) the proceedings of an Australian Parliament, a House of an Australian Parliament, a committee of a House of an Australian Parliament or a committee of an Australian Parliament;\n\n(f) the proceedings of a legislature of a foreign country, including a House or committee (however described) of a legislature of a foreign country.\n\n(2) A reference in this Act to a business also includes a reference to each of the following —\n\n(a) a business that is not engaged in or carried on for profit;\n\n(b) a business engaged in or carried on outside Australia.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 1\n\n##### 5. Examination in chief, cross‑examination and re‑examination\n\n(1) The examination in chief of a witness is the questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness to give evidence, not being questioning that is re‑examination.\n\n(2) The cross‑examination of a witness is the questioning of a witness by a party other than the party who called the witness to give evidence.\n\n(3) The re‑examination of a witness is the questioning of a witness by the party who called the witness to give evidence, being questioning (other than further examination in chief with the leave of the court) conducted after the cross‑examination of the witness by another party.\n\n(4) If a party recalls a witness who has already given evidence, the questioning of the witness by that party before the witness is questioned by another party is taken to be part of the examination in chief and not a re‑examination of the witness.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 2\n\n##### 6. References to documents\n\n(1) A document is any record of information, and includes the following —\n\n(a) anything on which there is writing;\n\n(b) anything on which there are marks, figures, symbols or perforations having a meaning for persons qualified to interpret them;\n\n(c) anything from which sounds, images or writings can be reproduced with or without the aid of anything else;\n\n(d) a map, plan, drawing or photograph.\n\n(2) A document also includes the following —\n\n(a) any part of the document;\n\n(b) any copy, reproduction or duplicate of the document or of any part of the document;\n\n(c) any part of a copy, reproduction or duplicate of a document.\n\n(3) A public document is a document that —\n\n(a) forms part of the records of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or\n\n(b) forms part of the records of the government of a foreign country; or\n\n(c) forms part of the records of a person or body holding office or exercising a function under or because of the Commonwealth Constitution, an Australian law or a law of a foreign country; or\n\n(d) is being kept by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory, a government of a foreign country or a person or body referred to in paragraph (c).\n\n(4) A public document includes the records of the proceedings of, and papers presented to —\n\n(a) an Australian Parliament, a House of an Australian Parliament, a committee of a House of an Australian Parliament or a committee of an Australian Parliament; and\n\n(b) a legislature of a foreign country, including a House or committee (however described) of a legislature of a foreign country.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 1 and Part 2 cl. 8\n\n##### 7. Representations made in documents\n\nFor the purposes of this Act, a representation contained in a document is taken to have been made by a person if —\n\n(a) the document was written, made or otherwise produced by the person; or\n\n(b) the representation was recognised or acknowledged by the person as the person’s representation by signing, initialling or otherwise marking the document.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 6\n\n##### 8. References to availability of documents and things\n\nFor the purposes of this Act, a document or thing is taken not to be available to a party if and only if —\n\n(a) it cannot be found after reasonable inquiry and search by the party; or\n\n(b) it was destroyed by the party, or by a person on behalf of the party, otherwise than in bad faith, or was destroyed by another person; or\n\n(c) it would be impractical to produce the document or thing during the course of the proceeding; or\n\n(d) production of the document or thing during the course of the proceeding could render a person liable to conviction for an offence; or\n\n(e) it is not in the possession or under the control of the party and —\n\n(i) it cannot be obtained by any judicial procedure of the court; or\n\n(ii) it is in the possession or under the control of another party to the proceeding concerned who knows or might reasonably be expected to know that evidence of the contents of the document, or evidence of the thing, is likely to be relevant in the proceeding; or\n\n(iii) it was in the possession or under the control of another party to the proceeding concerned at a time when that party knew or might reasonably be expected to have known that evidence of the contents of the document, or evidence of the thing, was likely to be relevant in the proceeding.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 5\n\n##### 9. References to availability to give evidence\n\n(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is taken not to be available to give evidence about a fact if —\n\n(a) the person is dead; or\n\n(b) the person is, for any reason other than the application of section 26, not competent to give the evidence; or\n\n(c) the person is mentally or physically unable to give the evidence and it is not reasonably practicable to overcome that inability; or\n\n(d) the person objects to giving the evidence under section 28 and that objection is upheld; or\n\n(e) it would be unlawful for the person to give the evidence; or\n\n(f) a provision of this Act prohibits the evidence being given; or\n\n(g) all reasonable steps have been taken, by the party seeking to prove the person is not available, to find the person or secure the person’s attendance, without success; or\n\n(h) all reasonable steps have been taken, by the party seeking to prove the person is not available, to compel the person to give the evidence, without success.\n\n(2) In all other cases, the person is taken to be available to give evidence about the fact.\n\n(3) In deciding whether a person is not available to give evidence under subsection (1)(b) or (c), a court may inform itself as it thinks fit.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 4\n\n##### 10. References to laws\n\n(1) A reference in this Act to a law of the State is a reference to a written law or an unwritten law of, or in force in, the State.\n\n(2) A reference in this Act to a law of the Commonwealth, another State, a Territory or a foreign country is a reference to a law (whether in the nature of a written law or an unwritten law) of, or in force in, that place.\n\n(3) A reference in this Act to an Australian law is a reference to an Australian law (whether in the nature of a written law or an unwritten law) of, or in force in, Australia.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 9\n\n##### 11. References to criminal proceedings\n\n(1) A reference in this Act to a criminal proceeding for a particular offence is a reference to a criminal proceeding in which a person stands charged with that offence —\n\n(a) whether or not the person is charged with that offence alone or together with another offence (as an alternative or additional count); and\n\n(b) whether or not the person is liable on the charge to be found guilty of any other offence.\n\n(2) If a provision of this Act applies to a criminal proceeding for a particular offence it also applies to any related proceeding, unless the contrary intention appears.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1906* s. 36A and Schedule 7 Part A cl. 1\n\n##### 12. References to civil penalties\n\nFor the purposes of this Act, a person is taken to be liable to a civil penalty if, in an Australian or overseas proceeding (other than a criminal proceeding), the person would be liable to a penalty arising under an Australian law or a law of a foreign country.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 3\n\n##### 13. References to offspring and parents\n\n(1) A person of any age is the offspring of another person if the other person is the person’s parent.\n\n(2) A parent, in relation to a child, includes a person who acts as a parent to the child and with whom the child lives as if the child were a member of the person’s family.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) Dictionary Part 2 cl. 10\n\n### Division 3 — Application of Act\n\n##### 14. Application of Act\n\nThis Act applies to all proceedings in a court.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1906* s. 4\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) s. 4\n\n##### 15. Extended application of certain provisions\n\n(1) A provision of this Act applies to a proceeding before a WA tribunal or a person acting judicially, whether or not the tribunal or person acting judicially is a court, if this Act expressly provides that the provision extends to a proceeding before a WA tribunal or a person acting judicially.\n\n(2) If a provision of this Act extends to a proceeding before a WA tribunal or a person acting judicially, a reference in the provision to a court includes a reference to a WA tribunal, or a person acting judicially, as the case requires.\n\nExamples for this section:\n\n1. Section 208, which permits evidence to be taken by video link or audio link, extends to a proceeding before a WA tribunal.\n2. Sections 328, 332 to 340 and 347, which facilitate proof of certain matters in proceedings, extend to a proceeding before a person acting judicially.\n\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) s. 5\n\n##### 16. Electronic processes facilitation\n\nThe *Courts and Tribunals (Electronic Processes Facilitation) Act 2013* Part 2 applies to this Act.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1906* s. 5A\n\n##### 17. Act binds Crown\n\nThis Act binds the Crown in right of Western Australia and, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.\n\n##### 18. Operation of other Acts\n\nThis Act does not affect the operation of the provisions of any other Act.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (New South Wales) s. 8\n\n##### 19. Application of common law and equity\n\n(1) This Act does not affect the operation of a principle or rule of common law or equity in relation to evidence in a proceeding to which this Act applies, except so far as this Act provides otherwise expressly or by necessary implication.\n\n(2) Without limiting subsection (1), this Act does not affect the operation of a principle or rule of common law or equity so far as it relates to any of the following —\n\n(a) admission or use of evidence of reasons for a decision of a member of a jury, or of the deliberations of a member of a jury in relation to the decision, in a proceeding by way of appeal from a judgment, decree, order or sentence of a court;\n\n(b) bail;\n\n(c) any requirement for admission of evidence in support of an alibi.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (New South Wales) s. 9\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) s. 9\n\n##### 20. Parliamentary privilege preserved\n\n(1) This Act does not affect the law relating to the privileges of any Australian Parliament or any House of any Australian Parliament.\n\n(2) In particular, section 25(3) does not affect, and is in addition to, the law relating to those privileges.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) s. 10\n\n##### 21. General powers of court\n\n(1) The power of a court to control the conduct of a proceeding is not affected by this Act, except so far as this Act provides otherwise expressly or by necessary implication.\n\n(2) In particular, the powers of a court with respect of abuse of process in a proceeding are not affected.\n\nCompare:\n\n\t\t*Evidence Act 1995* (Commonwealth) s. 11\n\n[Parts 2-9 have not come into operation.]\n\n## Part 10 — Miscellaneous\n\n[**367-383.** Have not come into operation.]\n\n##### 384. Review of Act\n\n(1) The Minister must review the operation and effectiveness of this Act, and prepare a report based on the review, as soon as practicable after the 5th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the day on which this section comes into operation.\n\n(2) The Minister must cause the report to be laid before each House of Parliament as soon as practicable after it is prepared, but not later than 12 months after the 5th anniversary or the 10th anniversary, as the case may be.\n\n[**385.** Has not come into operation.]\n\n[Parts 11 and 12 have not come into operation 1.]\n\n![]()\n\nNotes\n\nThis is a compilation of the *Evidence Act 2025*. For provisions that have come into operation see the compilation table. For provisions that have not yet come into operation see the uncommenced provisions table.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Evidence Act 2025* | 15 of 2025 | 25 Sep 2025 | Pt. 1: 25 Sep 2025 (see s. 2(a));   Pt. 10 (but only s. 384): 26 Sep 2025 (see s. 2(b)) |\n\n\nUncommenced provisions table\n\nTo view the text of the uncommenced provisions see *Acts as passed* on the WA legislation website.\n\n| **Short title** | **Number and year** | **Assent** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| *Evidence Act 2025* (other than Pt. 1 and s. 384) 1 | 15 of 2025 | 25 Sep 2025 | Pt. 12 Div. 1: operative immediately after the *Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016* s. 240 comes into operation (see s. 2(c)(ii)));   Pt. 12 Div. 17: operative immediately after the *Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024* s 158 comes into operation (see s. 2(d)(ii));   Pt. 2-9, Pt. 10 (other than s. 384), Pt. 11 and Pt. 12 Div. 2-16 and 18‑24: to be proclaimed (see s. 2(e)) |\n\n\nOther notes\n\n1 The *Evidence Act 2025* s. 492(2) Table which amends the *Finance Brokers Control Act 1975* will not come into operation as the Act it purported to amend was repealed by the *Credit (Commonwealth Powers) (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Act 2010* s. 80 on 6 March 2026 (see s. 2(b) and SL 2026/18 cl. 2).\n\nDefined terms\n\n*[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]*\n\n**Defined term Provision(s)**\n\naccused 3(1)\n\nadmission 3(1)\n\nasserted fact 3(1)\n\naudio link 3(1)\n\nAustralia 3(1)\n\nAustralian court 3(1)\n\nAustralian law 3(1)\n\nAustralian or overseas proceeding 3(1)\n\nAustralian Parliament 3(1)\n\nbusiness 3(1), 4(1), 4(2)\n\ncase 3(1)\n\nchild 3(1)\n\ncivil proceeding 3(1)\n\nclient 3(1)\n\nco-accused 3(1)\n\ncoincidence evidence 3(1)\n\ncoincidence rule 3(1)\n\ncomplainant 3(1)\n\ncourt 3(1)\n\ncredibility 3(1), 3(1)\n\ncredibility rule 3(1)\n\ncriminal or identified organisation 3(1)\n\ncriminal or identified organisation offence 3(1)\n\ncriminal proceeding 3(1)\n\ncross-examination 3(1), 5(2)\n\ncross-examiner 3(1)\n\ndisability 3(1)\n\ndocument 3(1), 6(1), 6(2)\n\nelectronic communication 3(1)\n\nexamination in chief 3(1), 5(1)\n\nexternal Territory 3(1)\n\nfamily violence 3(1)\n\nfamily violence offence 3(1)\n\nforeign court 3(1)\n\ngovernment or official gazette 3(1)\n\ngovernment or official website 3(1)\n\nground rules hearing 3(1)\n\nharm 3(1)\n\nhearsay rule 3(1)\n\nidentification evidence 3(1)\n\ninvestigating official 3(1)\n\njudge 3(1)\n\nlaw 3(1), 10(1), 10(2)\n\nleading question 3(1)\n\nlegal counsel 3(1)\n\nmental impairment 3(1)\n\nminister of religion 3(1)\n\noffence 3(1)\n\noffspring 3(1), 13(1)\n\nopinion rule 3(1)\n\nparent 3(1), 13(2)\n\nparty 2(1)\n\nperson acting judicially 3(1)\n\npolice officer 3(1)\n\nprevious representation 3(1)\n\nprior consistent statement 3(1)\n\nprior inconsistent statement 3(1)\n\nprobative value 3(1)\n\nproceeding 3(1)\n\nprosecutor 3(1)\n\nprotected communication 3(1)\n\npublic document 3(1), 6(3), 6(4)\n\npublish 3(1)\n\nre-examination 3(1), 5(3)\n\nrelated proceeding 3(1)\n\nrepresentation 3(1)\n\nscreening procedure 3(1)\n\nseal 3(1)\n\nsexual abuse 3(1)\n\nsexual offence 3(1)\n\nsexual offence complainant 3(1)\n\nspecial witness 3(1)\n\nsuperior court 3(1)\n\ntendency evidence 3(1)\n\ntendency rule 3(1)\n\ntraditional laws and customs 3(1)\n\ntribunal 3(1)\n\nvideo link 3(1)\n\nvideo link separation procedure 3(1)\n\nWA tribunal 3(1)\n\nwitness 3(1)\n\n© State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence (CC BY 4.0). To view relevant information and for a link to a copy of the licence, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.\n\nAttribute work as: © State of Western Australia 2025.\n\nBy Authority: GEOFF O. LAWN, Government Printer\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Compared with the prior statute, this Act widens and modernises scope: it expressly replaces the Evidence Act 1906 (introductory notes), adopts uniform‑law concepts and new statutory definitions (s.3 note), and expressly applies to all courts while allowing selected provisions to extend to WA tribunals and persons acting judicially (s.14, s.15). It also adds explicit electronic process facilitation (s.16) and binds the Crown (s.17). Who pays: parties and witnesses will bear much of the compliance cost of producing admissible documents and using remote‑evidence technology, and government agencies will be subject where the Crown is bound (s.17; s.4 on 'business'). Incentives and burdens: updated admissibility rules and defined availability constructs shift evidentiary risks onto litigants who must preserve and produce materials (see definitions of availability, s.8–9). Discretion and implementation risk: courts retain broad control over proceedings (s.21) and must reconcile statutory rules with preserved common law/equity principles (s.19). The staged commencement and several uncommenced Parts (s.2; uncommenced provisions table) create transitional and implementation uncertainty until those provisions commence. The Minister must review operation and effectiveness on the 5th and 10th anniversaries (s.384), formalising a post‑implementation evaluation point."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive and detailed definitions that reframe many evidence concepts (large s.3 dictionary and related definitions such as hearsay, opinion, tendency).","Staged and conditional commencement tied to other Acts and proclamations, creating implementation complexity (s.2; uncommenced provisions table).","Cross‑references and alignment with uniform evidence law and prior Acts, producing interpretative interaction with Commonwealth and State provisions (s.3 note; comparisons to Evidence Act 1995 and Evidence Act 1906).","Extensions to non‑court decision‑makers where expressly provided (WA tribunals, persons acting judicially) creating variable application across fora (s.15).","Interplay with existing common law and equity (Act preserves common law unless displaced), requiring judges to reconcile statutory and common law rules (s.19).","Dependencies on other legislation and external definitions (e.g. electronic transactions, mental impairment, criminal code definitions) increase legal cross‑checking (s.3; s.16).","Operational provisions for electronic evidence and remote testimony (audio/video link definitions and facilitation) introduce technical and procedural burdens (s.3; s.16).","Preservation of broad judicial case‑management discretion alongside new statutory rules, shifting some implementation to judicial determination (s.21)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act replaces the old WA Evidence Act 1906 and sets the rules for what evidence courts (and, in some cases, tribunals) may accept and how it is given. It modernises definitions (for example hearsay, opinion, tendency), permits electronic and video/audio link processes, stages commencement tied to other laws, and requires statutory review. It affects courts, parties, witnesses, legal practitioners, investigators and government bodies because it changes admissibility, evidential procedure and how documents and communications are treated."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":8,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original Evidence Act 1906 was a relatively straightforward statute dealing with basic evidentiary rules. This 2025 Act significantly expands scope by: (1) adopting the comprehensive uniform evidence law framework covering hearsay, opinion, tendency, coincidence, and credibility evidence; (2) adding extensive protections for vulnerable witnesses (special witnesses, video links, screening); (3) creating specific evidentiary rules for modern offence categories like criminal organisation offences and family violence offences; (4) incorporating electronic processes and modern technology; and (5) extending application beyond courts to tribunals and persons acting judicially. The Act has grown from a simple evidence statute to a comprehensive code of evidence law."},"complexity_factors":["60+ defined terms in section 3(1) alone, with many terms having nested definitions or cross-references to other sections (e.g., 'business' defined in section 3 but expanded in section 4; 'document' in section 3 but detailed in section 6)","Extensive cross-referencing to other legislation including Commonwealth Acts, other State Acts, and repealed Acts (e.g., Evidence Act 1906, Criminal Code, Children and Community Services Act 2004, Aquatic Resources Management Act 2016)","Complex commencement provisions with conditional logic — different parts start on different dates depending on proclamations or when other unrelated Acts commence (sections 2(c) and 2(d) link commencement to sections of the Aquatic Resources Management Act and Privacy Act)","Multiple overlapping categories of evidence with specific rules: tendency evidence, coincidence evidence, hearsay, opinion evidence, credibility evidence, identification evidence — each with their own admissibility tests","Specialised provisions for specific offence types (sexual offences, family violence offences, criminal organisation offences) creating a layered structure of general rules plus exceptions","Dual application structure — applies to courts generally but certain provisions extend to tribunals and 'persons acting judicially' (section 15)","Preservation clauses that maintain common law and equity except where expressly overridden (section 19), creating potential uncertainty about what is preserved versus what is replaced","The Act is clearly incomplete in this version — Parts 2-9, 11, and most of 12 are not included in the provided text, indicated by '[Parts 2-9 have not come into operation]' and similar notes"],"plain_english_summary":"Western Australia’s Evidence Act 2025 replaces the 1906 Act and modernises rules on what evidence courts may admit, how witnesses give testimony, and how documents and electronic records are treated, aligning WA with the uniform evidence law used elsewhere in Australia.\n\nIt affects anyone in WA legal proceedings — judges, lawyers, police, victims, businesses and government — and matters because it clarifies admissibility, preserves court powers, and adds protections for vulnerable witnesses."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025","history":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/evidence-act-2025/documents"}}